Europa Wall Decorations

Circle of VAN DE KASTEELE, Frans (Brussels, c. 1541 – Italy, 1621). "Virgin with angels and saints". Oil on copper. Curly frame in ebony. Devotiona...

Neapolitan School of the 17th Century Battle scenes between Christians and Turks (2) Oil on canvas, 52 x 71 cm Framed, 61 x 80 cm One genre that met with wide acclaim in seventeenth-century Neapolitan painting and flattering success among collectors was that of battle. The Parthenopean nobility loved to adorn the walls of their salons with battles depicting single acts of heroism or complex combats that exalted patriotism and warlike prowess, virtues with which members of the wealthy aristocracy of the time liked to identify. The Church, in the Neapolitan area, was also at the forefront of commissions, commissioning artists to depict the spectacular triumphs of Christendom over the infidels, such as the memorable naval battle of Lepanto in 1571, which marked a historical turning point with the great victory over the Turks, becoming a repeated iconographic motif imbued with devotional value, replicated several times through the interest of the Dominican order, which was very devoted to Our Lady of the Rosary, who benevolently followed earthly events from above in heaven. Other themes dear to the Church within the genre were drawn from the Old and New Testaments, such as Constantine's Victory at the Milvian Bridge or St. James at the Battle of Clodius. Among the leading Neapolitan artists of that period, several specialized in battle scenes: these include Francesco Graziani, known as Ciccio Napoletano, a battler active between Naples and Rome in the second half of the 17th century; Andrea De Lione, who lived in Naples from 1610 to 1685, a versatile narrator of battles without heroes, of horsemen assaulting or retreating, and of profane scenes immersed in a wild and primordial, yet already classicized, nature; and Carlo Coppola. The latter was active for more than twenty years, from 1640 to 1665, and his catalog, which is interesting because it bears witness to a particular historical moment and the tastes of private patrons, has yet to be defined, although many of his works are initialed. It is precisely to Coppola's corpus that these two paintings could come close: with the production of the Neapolitan battler the two paintings seem to share the smoky colors, the accentuated chiaroscuro and the marked dynamism of the scenes. Moreover, it is necessary to mention how that of the battle between Christians and Turks was an absolutely central theme in Coppola's pictorial production. Also close to the manner of the two paintings analyzed here is the production of one of Coppola's most celebrated pupils, Giovanni Luigi Rocco...

Beautiful oil painting on canvas depicting a gentleman belonging to the ancient chivalric order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, founded in 1572 by the House of Savoy. The protagonist ...

captivating oil on canvas portrait of a monk, likely created in the 18th century by an artist of the Spanish school. The sitter is depicted with solemn intensity, his expressive fea...

19th century English Chinoiserie Pagoda plate.

A beautiful pair of Italian 18th century Neapolitan gouaches in 19th century mahogany frames. One depicts the volcano eruption of 1822 in Naples, the other is an affluent residential...

17th century Flemish oil on panel Monogrammist H. C. "Soldiers gambling for Christ's tunic" The fine painting depicts the biblical scene i...

Portrait of a man France, late 18th-early 19th century oil on canvas Measures: H 41.5 in (105.5 cm).

A stunning and most impressive Flemish late 17th century/early 18th century oil on canvas painting possibly by Frans Francken III. The beautiful and...

Unusual 19th century English Majolica Geranium plate.

Large historical painting 18th century, Italian school "Darius' mother pleading before Alexander after the battle of Issus." Oil on canvas 210 x 290 cm Painted with great strength...

17th century Christ in chains Oil on canvas, 95 x 71 cm Frame 110 x 84 cm The figurative tradition representing Christ with chained hands can be traced back to the early Middle Ages, when an iconography of His pains spread widely. The need to translate the Passion into images aimed to raise awareness of the forgiveness that has occurred for all men, consequent to the Crucifixion. This painting depicts the moment before the audience before Pilate. Christ has not yet been cruelly mocked by the soldiers, despite the fact that he is already wearing the crown of thorns and the purple...